December 17, 2023
When I was a kid, I made a new friend in 3rd grade: Pam. We became great friends. We were neighbors and we spent a lot of time playing together.
Pam’s Dad was really angry at the church. I don’t remember why. So, Pam and her family didn’t go to church. But me and my family did, every Sunday. Pam asked me about God. I responded with no hesitation. We talked with each other about lots of things, so why not talk about God? If I slept over on a Sat. night at Pam’s, my parents would pick me up the next morning for church. Eventually Pam decided she wanted to go to church too, to see what it was like. She went with us, and she liked it! When Pam was 18, she got baptized, I was her sponsor. I was so impressed by her decision!
When you’re a kid, it’s easier to talk about God, or ask someone to go to church, with no hesitation. I didn’t worry that I hadn’t yet gone to seminary to study to be a minister. I don’t think I knew what seminary was back then. I didn’t worry that I wasn’t qualified to talk about God. God isn’t looking for a perfect person to share their faith with someone who doesn’t know him. God often chooses the unlikely to do the extraordinary.
Now I’m a minister. And you may think I’ know what I’m doing sharing faith.
But you know, when I have an opportunity to talk about what my faith means with someone, I sometimes worry. I hesitate. I don’t want to be pushy, I don’t wanna make them feel weird. I don’t wanna be that annoying Christian. If you don’t wanna be an annoying Christian, raise your hand! If you feel like you’re not the person to share your faith or invite someone to church, well, God chooses the unlikely to do the extraordinary!
Today we’re going to hear about the shepherds in the Christmas story.
We’re in a message series called Divine Moments, looking at four moments in the story of Jesus’ birth: we looked at Joseph’s moment of obedience, then at Mary’s moment of surrender, and today we’re in Luke 2. Mary has just given birth to Jesus and placed him in a manger. Luke 2:8 says, “That night, there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.” And suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared to them, with the bright light of heavenly glory! The shepherds were terrified! But the angel said, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”
What I find so interesting is this angel didn’t go tell a king about the Messiah’s birth. The angel didn’t go tell powerful people that Jesus is born. Instead, the angel announced it to shepherds tending their sheep at night, which if you know anything about 1st century shepherds, and their status in society, would raise a question like, “Why in the world shepherds? Why shepherds?” Out there, sleeping in the fields with their sheep, they were dirty and smelly when the angel visited. But the angel came to them, and not to anyone else. Next, a whole army of angels, a heavenly host, also came to the shepherds. God chose the unpolished, unremarkable shepherds to hear the greatest news in the history of the world! God often chooses the unlikely to do the extraordinary. The moment the shepherds heard the news, they said, “We gotta go to Bethlehem and see what happened. With no hesitation they hurried to the little town of Bethlehem. And there they saw baby Jesus lying in a manger.
I love this! There was no hesitation. They could have talked themselves out of going: “we have to watch the sheep.” “It’s late. If we go now, we might wake the baby up.” But they went with no hesitation. My prayer for the American church would be that we get rid of spiritual hesitation. We get a spiritual urgency, where we say, “I wanna go to church, I wanna be the first one there! I wanna bring somebody with me. Because I can’t keep this to myself!” This is the week before we celebrate Jesus’ birth. Do you know this week is the most likely week of the entire year that someone who doesn’t go to church is going to say yes to an invitation to come to church! On Christmas eve, people far from God are most likely to want to be close to God! Even more than for Easter, people will say yes to an invitation to Christmas eve.
With no hesitation, the shepherds hurried to see the baby Jesus. And when they had seen him, they spread the word. They told everyone! They told Mary and Joseph and everybody else around the manger and beyond! And all were amazed! They were blown away!
When’s the last time you thought about God’s goodness, his love, his grace? Do you recall being overwhelmed that Jesus loves you? Jesus gave his life for you. Jesus calls you to be his voice of hope and healing in the world. The Spirit of God directs your steps. It’s incredible! The Shepherds felt that: they told everyone; a Savior has been born to you! He is lying in a manger. You gotta know!
God didn’t announce this message to royalty in a palace, but to shepherds in a field, so that the world would know that no one is too far from God’s reach. God loves everybody! God often chooses the unlikely to do the extraordinary. He chooses people like you and me, who don’t feel we know enough, and we’re not holy enough.
This week is a moment of spiritual opportunity. So, I want to point out some opportunities. This is your homework.
- Think of one person in your life who doesn’t know Jesus. Find one way to show them Jesus’ love this week, and invite them to join you for a Christmas service. It’s good to not just invite, but to show them God’s love in a practical way. Give them a little gift. Some of your Christmas cookies. Show God’s love and give them an invitation. People are most open to God now.
- Or if you’re a Facebook person, you can go to Tower City Trinity United Church of Christ on Facebook at you’ll see the awesome video the children’s choir did inviting people to the Christmas Eve service at 7 at Trinity. Like it, comment on it, share it. Help get the word out!
- Or if you’re a Facebook person, you can go to St. Peter’s UCC, Orwin, PA on Facebook and see the video post I made inviting people to the Christmas Eve service at 5 pm at St. Peter’s. Like it, comment on it, share it. Help get the word out!
More than 2000 years ago, the shepherds saw a bright light and heard an angel bring good news of great joy for all the people! The Shepherds didn’t debate whether to go or not. With no hesitation, they jumped up and ran to Bethlehem to see Christ the Lord. Soon we will celebrate the good news of Jesus’ birth. I want to be bold! Do you want to be bold? Our prayer is “Make me bold!” Let’s say that out loud! And don’t be surprised if you start to see God gives you the opportunity to bring the light of Christmas to someone looking for Jesus. Amen.
Maureen Duffy-Guy's blog 